Pressure grows on Church to clear way for women bishops

Senior figures in the diocese of Ripon and Leeds have admitted the vote by the General Synod in November to prevent women becoming bishops had provoked widespread anger in churches.

A motion was proposed during a meeting of the Ripon and Leeds Diocesan Synod to call for new legislation to allow women bishops to be passed “as soon as possible”.

The vicar of Moor Allerton and Shadwell, Canon Charles Dobbin, who proposed the motion, claimed people were “stunned and dismayed” by the failure of the General Synod last year.

He claimed critics had “ridiculed” the decision by claiming the Church is “completely irrelevant” and added: “General Synod has let down individuals within churches who have taken to heart the priority of engaging in mission.”

There was an almost unanimous vote in favour of the motion at the meeting on Saturday, with 83 backing it, one vote against and six abstentions.

The Bishop of Ripon and Leeds, John Packer, has supported the motion and maintained it was “tragic and wrong” that the vote to introduce women bishops had failed.

The General Synod met in London in November for the vote on whether women should be permitted to become bishops.

At the time the vote was billed as the most significant decision the 470-strong body has taken since it backed female priests 20 years ago.

The legislation needed a two-thirds majority in all three houses of the synod – of bishops, clergy and laity – in order to gain final approval.

However, while the measure was passed by the synod’s houses of bishops and clergy, it was rejected by the House of Laity.

Supporters have vowed to continue their campaign, and fresh proposals are due to be considered by the General Synod in July.